Chapter 22
MOST LIKELY TO UPSET EVERYONE
“Do you know why they’re calling this assembly?” Hardy asks as we walk across the Yard toward the auditorium.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
This isn’t one of the usual ones they do for pep rallies.
It’s too late for that. And even though we’re already in May, it’s still a little too early for passing out yearbooks.
All I know is that when we got to school this morning, our homeroom teachers told us to go to the auditorium after attendance and lunch counts.
I slow down as Hardy and I get closer to the building’s entrance. I still haven’t seen Ella. I wonder if she knows what’s going on. I’m scanning the sea of students for my girlfriend when Ava materializes in front of me.
She puts her hands on her hips. “Did you call an assembly without notifying the rest of us?”
I snort. “I’m glad you think I have that kind of power, but I think we both know how little say we have around here.”
Ava frowns. “We have a lot of say around here. Remember how we got the school to install new water fountains near the lunchroom bathrooms?”
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure that was already on the facility department’s work list.”
“Come on, Connor. Do you have to be so contrary about everything?”
“Not everything. I’ll have you know I hated the Golden Eye prom theme but didn't vote against it. And the dance was perfectly fine.”
She sighs loudly. “Apathy isn’t the same as being agreeable.”
Hardy, who has stayed back with me but isn’t standing next to me, chokes on a laugh. I glare at him before turning back to Ava. “I looked through all my emails and the school calendar when Mr. Robinson announced the assembly in homeroom and didn’t see anything. I don’t know what it could be about.”
Ava’s brows lower. “Me neither, but I don’t feel good about this. They wouldn't call a last minute assembly unless something was wrong.”
“I’m sure everything’s fine,” I say, but a heaviness settles in my gut. Ava is more high-strung than I can handle, but she makes an excellent point. Citrus Prep is orderly and predictable. A mystery assembly is concerning.
“Well, just in case, I’m getting inside as quickly as possible. I’d say I’ll see you inside, but I’m assuming you're hiding in the back like usual?”
I nod.
She rolls her eyes and turns on her heels before racing through the front doors of the building that leads to the auditorium.
When she’s gone, I turn back to Hardy, who is beaming. “Did you enjoy watching that?”
Hardy laughs. “I always enjoy seeing other people put you in your place. Why do you think Ella and I got along so well for so many years?”
“I assumed it was because she was best friends with the girl you were pining over.”
Hardy scoffs. “Give me some credit, Williams. Just because I knew Ella was awesome before you did doesn't mean I had ulterior motives for being her friend.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I guess Ava got into my head, and I’m just a little freaked out.” I scan the crowd for Ella or Lily one more time. I’m starting to worry that something might have happened when Ella comes up and grabs my hand.
“I’m surprised you and Hardy aren't inside already,” she says. “Your classes are so much closer to the auditorium than mine and Lily’s.”
I force a grin. “We thought we’d be gentlemen and wait for our ladies.”
Lily makes a gagging noise.
“What?” Hardy drapes his arm over her shoulder. “Is that really so hard to believe?”
“Are you sure it’s not because you wanted to see if we knew what this assembly was about?” Ella asks.
When Hardy and I don’t respond, Lily pokes Hardy’s chest. “I knew it wasn’t chivalry.”
“Fine, you caught us.” I lift my free hand in surrender. “Do you know what it’s about?”
Ella shakes her head. “No clue. I was hoping the student body president would know.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that? You know the position is mostly honorary, right?”
“Honorary is not the word I would use, but yeah, I know.” Ella squeezes my hand. “Maybe we should go inside and see what’s going on?”
“Yeah,” I say, still feeling uneasy about what is going to happen next.
The four of us grab a seat toward the back of the auditorium just as the lights lower. The girls are in the middle while Hardy and I take the outside.
“Good morning, Citrus Prep,” Dr. Freck says, walking out with a microphone. “You may be wondering why I’ve called this assembly. I have an announcement to make, and I thought it would be best to share the information all at once.”
I shift uncomfortably in my seat.
Dr. Freck walks back and forth slowly across the stage.
“You may recall the assembly we had at the beginning of the year. I shared some concerns about the anxiety epidemic that was sweeping through Citrus Prep and other high schools. I’m happy to report that our counselors have reported fewer cases of stressed-out teens.
Removing the academic pressure that comes with class rank and Citrus Scholar really seemed to make a difference this year. ”
Ella leans in and whispers, “I don’t think it was eliminating class rank.”
I snort. “Right? Apparently, all they had to do was force people to start dating their enemy.”
“I’m sure that would have gone over really well.”
The ends would have justified the means.” I reach out and grab her hand.
She squeezes it. “Maybe for us.”
Someone from behind shushes us.
We laugh and redirect our attention to the stage.
“But while we are happy to report positive changes in student life here on campus, I have some potentially upsetting news about Citrus Scholar.”
My heart skips a beat as Ella and I look at each other.
We’ve spent the entire second semester bracing ourselves for what will happen when one of us wins.
It’s going to be difficult no matter what, but add in “potentially bad news,” and I’m freaking out.
Ella’s worried expression matches the unease building in my chest. We both look back at the stage.
“The decision to name Citrus Scholar based on the whole student is a decision I stand by. I think we need to encourage students to explore who they are outside of grades.” Dr. Freck pauses and takes a deep breath.
“However, that decision was not one that I, or anyone else at the school, was at liberty to make. With some further research, we discovered that the Citrus Scholar trust has very clearly outlined that the scholarship can only go to the valedictorian.”
I turn back to Ella. “Does that mean?”
She gasps and releases my hand, then reaches into her backpack to pull out her laptop. Dr. Freck apologizes for the frustration this may cause some of us, but I’m barely listening as Ella clicks through different screens. She turns the computer toward me as the class ranks load.
There, at the top of the page, is Taylor’s name. I can’t believe it. Actually, I can believe it. Ella and I both knew her GPA was higher than ours. We just didn’t care. Now, it’s too late in the year for either of us to bring our grades up enough to beat her.
“Who’s the valedictorian?” Lily asks.
Ella turns her laptop so the screen is facing her best friend.
Lily’s eyes widen.
“Who is it?” Hardy says from the other side of her.
“Taylor Brown,” Lily says loudly, even though Hardy is right next to her.
Her voice echoes through the quiet auditorium, and a murmur starts close to us and moves throughout the crowd.
I’m keenly aware of everyone’s attention on me and Ella.
The last time we had an assembly about Citrus Scholar, Ella cried out in the middle of it.
Most of the student body is aware that we’ve spent the entire year trying to beat the other.
And, in the greatest upset of all, neither of us will be valedictorian or get Citrus Scholar.
I turn Ella’s laptop back toward me. In my shock, I didn’t get a chance to see who came in second.
I take a breath and look at the screen. Right under Taylor’s name is Ella’s.
She beat me. My parents are going to flip out.
Not only did I not get Citrus Scholar, I had the nerve to come in third place.
I’m sure my father will have plenty to say about this, but for now, I’m really proud of Ella.
Not only did she manage to participate in a ton of new clubs this year, she still ranked second in the entire grade.
I hope that’s enough to make her happy. Dr. Freck is trying to gain control of the audience, but everyone has started talking amongst themselves.
I lean toward Ella. “You okay?”
“Do you mean because I came in second?”
I nod. “I know how much Citrus Scholar meant to you.”
“I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t get it.”
“Yeah, but the rules changed again. Are you okay that you lost to Taylor?”
Ella closes the lid of her laptop and turns to face me. “I think you’re looking at this the wrong way. I might not have gotten valedictorian, but at least I still beat you.”
I put a hand to my chest. “Ouch.”
She smiles then shrugs. “Second place isn’t bad.”
I grin back at her. “No, it is not, Madam Salutatorian.”
“What about you? Are you upset?”
“Upset that my amazing girlfriend also happens to be a genius? Not at all. I’m so proud of you.”
“So, everything is okay between us?”
“More than okay. Everything is great.” The words are empty platitudes. I really am happy. But I’m also feeling weirdly uncomfortable sitting in the auditorium as everyone whispers about what just happened. I grab my backpack. “Wanna get out of here? Go celebrate over coffee?”
Ella looks around the room. “Right now? Dr. Freck is still talking, and we still have the rest of the school day.”
I shrug. “What’s Dr. Freck going to do? Take away Citrus Scholar from us?”
Ella stares at me for a moment before she grins and grabs her backpack. “Fine. Let’s go.”
I take her hand, ignoring Lily and Hardy’s protests as we side-shuffle out of our row. We don’t sign out as we leave campus, and Ella jumps in the passenger seat of my truck like it’s second nature.
Now that we’re away from everyone else, I feel like I can breathe a little better. I wonder if that’s true for her too. Even though I already asked her, turn to her and ask again. “Are you sure you’re okay? I know how badly you wanted Citrus Scholar.”
Ella nods. “I did, but plans change. You know that. I don’t need Citrus Scholar to go to University of Florida. And I don’t need to win to prove that I’m worthy. I know that I am. Losing to Taylor doesn’t change anything.”
I reach out and grab her hand, so thankful to be here with her.
This outcome might not have been what either of us expected, but in a strange way, I’m glad neither of us won.
As much as I want to think that I wouldn't hold it against her, I worry that I might have resented her. And I fear she might have resented me. Now that we know someone else will get the scholarship, Ella and I have one less thing we need to figure out as we navigate the future. And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
But for now? I’m just happy to play hooky and spend as much time with her as possible.